HOLIDAYMAKER Paul Barton bit off more than he could chew when he went fossicking on the beach west of Ladram Bay.

For among red sandstone chunks from a recent rock fall, he found a fossil tooth.

Paul, 36, an office manager from Blackburn, was staying at Ladram Bay with his wife and daughters when he made the discovery.

Now he wants to find out who the owner of the vicious-looking tooth might have been and how old it is.

Measuring 25-30mms long, it has, says Paul, one tooth over another and is more flat than round. He has been in touch with Exeter University who suggested he contact the British Geological Survey.

Paul, whose brother is a Royal Marine Commando stationed at Lympstone, said: “I noticed sandstone in the sea, and having a good knowledge of the area, with holidays going back 20 years or so, I decided to have a look with my two daughters.

“One of the rocks sheered in half and I was staring at what looked like a canine tooth. I couldn’t believe it.”

He cleaned the tooth, which is still sharp, and, he says, it is intriguing him.

“It looks like a predator of some kind. I was walking around with it in my pocket but then I put it in a safe place, it might be millions of years old,” said Paul, who is now planning to search for other fossils on his return to East Devon.